Review; Duran Duran the LG Arena; Band’s Homecoming Well Worth the Wait

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Review; Duran Duran the LG Arena; Band's homecoming well worth the wait

by Matt Lloyd, Birmingham Mail
Dec 3 2011

GOOD things come to those who wait – as the army of Duran Duran fans at the LG Arena found out last night.

The Brummie rockers, who were part of the New Romantic scene of the 1980s, were originally due to return to the city earlier this year as part of their ‘All You Need is Now’ tour.

But when frontman Simon Le Bon came down with vocal problems the fans were kept waiting a little bit longer.

Last night their wait was over and, boy, was it worth it!

Despite a career spanning more than 30 years, it is in Birmingham, where the band originally formed in 1979, that the adoration of their fans can truly be felt.

Blasting out a sting of classics, as well as material from the new album, Duran Duran showed their patient fans that they have only improved with age.

Mixing up the set with material from their new release, All You Need is Now, and favourites from their 30-year-career, the crowd were on their feet for most of the show.

Beginning with Before the Rain, it felt like a slow start but the show soon exploded with the second song of the night Planet Earth. Le Bon, whose voice is like an audio representation of the 1980s, was still a commanding presence on the stage. Highlights of the night included songs the Man Who Stole a Leopard and the band’s smash hit Ordinary World, which Le Bon dedicated to the group’s home town of Birmingham.

Fans said the gig more than made up for the disappointment of the cancellation earlier this year.

Hayley Taylor, aged 37, from Solihull, said: “I’ve always loved them, I was so gutted when they had to cancel.

“But it was worth the wait, they were terrific.

“I was dancing all the way through.” And while the crowd were made up mostly of those who remembered Duran Duran from their 80s heydays, some younger fans were in attendance.

Laura Pearson, aged 22 and from Kings Heath, said: “My older brother listened to them when I was younger and I got hooked.

“This is the first time I’ve seen them live, there’s nowhere better than Birmingham, they’ve come home.”

As far as homecomings go, Duran Duran’s was worth waiting for.

Courtesy Birmingham Mail

Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/what-is-on-in-birmingham/birmingham-gig-reviews/2011/12/03/review-duran-duran-the-lg-arena-band-s-homecoming-well-woth-the-wait-97319-29887135/#ixzz1fd2uOQQz

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